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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2010)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, April 15, 2010 Council okays biking event, but keeps community garden waiting At the April 5 meeting of the Vernonia City Council, City Ad- ministrator Bob Young was asked by council to stay on the County Economic Develop- ment Board. The board re- quested $2,500 from each city as part of their participation. Young said the money would be written into the next budget. Council considered a re- quest from Scott Laird, speak- ing as a member of the Parks Committee, to approve a Short Track Mountain Bike Race on June 12 at the Skills Park area. It was pointed out that the Parks Committee had not specifically voted on this re- quest. After discussing issues such as the need for extra rest- room facilities and a business license fee, council approved the request. Director of Public Works Bob Ruhl submitted a request for up to $61,000 for a GIS project. GIS is a digital mapping process that can be used for underground water/sewer lines, flood mapping, zoning and ele- vations studies, among other uses. The project was ap- proved with $24,000 from Wa- ter and Sewer Contingency funds, and the balance from Sewer System Development funds in the budget. Two bids were received and reviewed by City Recorder Joann Glass, City Staff, and HLB-OTAK, an engineering firm chosen by the city. Council approved the local survey firm, KLS Surveying Inc. for the contract to provide these services, to be completed by November 30. A Community Garden Pro- ject was discussed. Young wanted to provide a $350 grant to the project, and said he found an insurance company for liability insurance. The in- surance issue has been a sticky one for the participants. Council disagreed with Young’s grant proposal, citing concerns for coming up with that much money considering the city’s fi- nances. The project will be dis- cussed further at a future meet- ing. Jill Hult, one of the mem- bers of the project, questioned why council had not received the recommendation the Parks Committee previously ap- proved. No clear answer was provided. After the meeting, City Councilor Brett Costley sent an email indicating he thought Young’s handling of the issue was inappropriate and he would speak to Young about it. When asked for his response to Costley’s comments, Young said, “No comment.” The Strategic Plan, including a new vision and mission state- ment, was presented by con- sultant Paul Koch, and ap- proved by council. Council approved Ordinance 831, replacing an existing ordi- nance and providing standards and rules for the city building code. In other business, council: • Approved a request from Vernonia Cares to hold the Ver- nonia Bear Creek Run/Walk on Saturday, August 14; • approved Resolution 410, as a housekeeping measure. The next regularly sched- uled meeting will be April 19, starting at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall. Spring brings outdoor pet hazards The arrival of spring means more time outside for you and your pets. But even in your own backyard, there are some po- tential hazards that could get in the way of the fun. Even certain plants and flowers can be poi- sonous to pets. With these tips from the Ore- gon Veterinary Medical Associ- ation, you can keep your pets safe from outdoor hazards. Fertilizers and Herbicides – Do not let your pets in the yard while applying chemicals. Wait until chemicals have dried and even up to four days after appli- cation before allowing a pet into the area. Pets that lick their paws after walking on treated areas can be poisoned. Before applying a chemical to your lawn or in your yard, consider whether natural, or- ganic or chemical-free reme- dies such as those described by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality might be just as effective for your intend- ed use. “Be sure to read labels be- fore application, so you can un- derstand the potential risks and Please see Page 5 Community Calendar VERNONIA Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays 6:30 p.m., 410 North Street Alcoholics Anonymous Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street American Legion Post #119 2nd Thursday 7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue Booster Club 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., VHS Library Boy Scout Troop 201 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin Boy Scout Troop 860 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday 6:30 p.m., City Hall CERT 4th Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-3018 Chamber of Commerce 2nd Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-6081 Community Coalition 2nd Monday 12:30 p.m. School District Ofc. Cub Scout Pack 201 Scout Cabin For Info Call 503-429-4250 Friends of the Library 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2 For Info Call 503-819-0143 Hands On Art Committee 1st & 3rd Thursdays 4:00 p.m., City Hall Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant Municipal Airport Committee 4th Thursday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Pioneer Museum For Info Call 503-429-3713 Public Works Committee 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Cares Directors For Info call 503-429-1414 Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Community PTA 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Vernonia Garden Club 2nd Tuesday 1:30 p.m., Vernonia Library Vernonia Grange 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall Vernonia Health Center 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St. Vernonia Learning Center 1st Wednesday 6:00 p.m., VLC Vernonia Parks Committee 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Planning Comm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Pride 2nd Thursday 1:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Ridge Riders Last Thursday 7:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia RFPD Board 2nd Tuesday 6:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia School Board 2nd Thursday 6:00 p.m., District Office Vernonia Sr. Center Board 2nd Friday 10:00 a.m., Senior Center Vernonia Transfer Station 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Behind VHS Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st, 3rd & 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station WOEC Directors 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., WOEC MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg. 2nd Tuesday M-BRFPD Board Workshop 4th Tuesday M-B Ambulance Drill 1st & 2nd Thursdays M-B Fire Drill 1st & 2nd Wednesdays M-B Helping Circle 2nd Monday M-B SAR Drill 3rd Wednesday M-B Volunteer Assoc. 1st Tuesday Natal Grange 2nd Wednesday T.O.P.S. Mondays Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869 BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous American Legion Post #90 Banks City Council Banks Fire District #13 Banks Library Commission Banks Planning Commission Banks School Board Banks Youth Group Chamber of Commerce CPO 14 Everybody’s Hometown Band Friends of the Library Lions Club Sunset Park Assoc. T.O.P.S. Friday Wednesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Tuesday Last Tuesday 2nd Monday Sunday, Wednesday 1st Thursday 3rd Monday Tuesdays 2nd Tuesday 1st & 3rd Mondays 3rd Wednesday Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall 9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Main Street Post 7:30 p.m., City Hall 7:00 p.m., Station 13 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., City Hall 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby 8:00 p.m., Gun Club 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesday 10:00 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia Comm Mental Health 1st Tuesday 5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way Columbia Soil & Water District 3rd Wednesday 7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes County Fair Board 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. County Parks Commission 3rd Tuesday Times vary, 1054 Oregon St. Mental Health Advisory Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Comm. on Children & Families 3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.